Walkden: Two years after arson, at least another two before Taunton City Hall repaired

It has been 745 days since an arson fire caused the closing of Taunton’s City Hall building at 15 Summer St. The resulting smoke and water damage from the Aug. 17, 2010 attic blaze forced the city to relocate the majority of departments to the former Maxham School on Oak Street. Other offices, in...

It has been 745 days since an arson fire caused the closing of Taunton’s City Hall building at 15 Summer St.

The resulting smoke and water damage from the Aug. 17, 2010 attic blaze forced the city to relocate the majority of departments to the former Maxham School on Oak Street. Other offices, including those of the water division, treasurer and auditor have since been moved to the DPW headquarters on Ingell Street and a TMLP office at 55 Weir St.

PROGRESS TO DATE

Axis Capital’s Axis Insurance division paid $4.8 million to the city to cover the loss, of which $1 million is specifically to be used for code upgrades to the original building.

Approximately $1.2 million was paid out shortly after the fire to pay for interior demolition and relocation of costs.

Building Department Superintendent Wayne Walkden says there is now approximately $1.8 million left, the bulk of which is deposited in a building construction fund.

The City Council recently appropriated $210,000 for the first phase of a feasibility study to be conducted by Providence-based Durkee Brown Viveiros and Werenfels.

Walkden said the city and the firm are close to signing a contract. He anticipates the work — which besides a feasibility study will include a program analysis, site survey and schematic design — should take at least three months.

It will be at least another two years from now, he said, before City Hall is repaired and ready for occupancy.

It’s not unreasonable, he said, to expect the job to cost at least $10 million, which will require the city to issue a bond.

“That’s the missing link at this point,” Walkden said.

He expects the water division will remain in the DPW building and said it’s possible offices of the health board and economic and community development will move into City Hall.

Walkden said the city’s engineer is now preparing to relocate into the DPW’s garage on Ingell Street.

The city is also about to pay an additional $800 per month to store sensitive paper documents that up until now have been kept in a Foxboro storage facility.

Walkden said all documents will be stored at Taunton Self-Storage for a monthly fee of $2,200, compared to the $1,400 the city up until now has been paying.

ARSON CASE

No has been arrested for setting the mid-morning fire.

The inquiry into the “intentionally set” fire is now closed “pending any new information,” said Jennifer Mieth, spokesperson for the state fire marshal’s office.

Mieth said fire investigators, however, “would very much like” to hear from anyone with fresh information and are prepared to follow up on any leads leading the arrest of the arsonist.